| Type: | penumbral |
| Date: | February 11, 2017 |
| Gamma: | -1.0254 |
| Magnitude: | −0.0342 |
| Saros Ser: | 114 |
| Saros No: | 59 of 71 |
| Penumbral: | 259 minutes, 10 seconds |
| P1: | 22:34:16 |
| Greatest: | 0:43:53 |
| P4: | 2:53:26 |
| Previous: | September 2016 |
| Next: | August 2017 |
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Saturday, February 11, 2017,[1] with an umbral magnitude of −0.0342. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when part or all of the Moon's near side passes into the Earth's penumbra. Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth. Occurring about 4.6 days before perigee (on February 6, 2017, at 9:00 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]
This eclipse occurred the same day as comet 45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková made a close approach to Earth (0.08318 AU). It also occurred on the Lantern Festival, the first eclipse to do so since February 9, 2009.
The eclipse was completely visible over northeastern North America, eastern South America, Europe, Africa, and west Asia, seen rising over much of North America and western South America and setting over south and east Asia.[3]
Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[4]
| Penumbral Magnitude | 0.98956 | |
| Umbral Magnitude | −0.03421 | |
| Gamma | −1.02548 | |
| Sun Right Ascension | 21h39m19.2s | |
| Sun Declination | -14°01'07.8" | |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'12.3" | |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" | |
| Moon Right Ascension | 09h38m22.6s | |
| Moon Declination | +13°03'10.2" | |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'49.8" | |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°58'05.6" | |
| ΔT | 68.3 s |
See also: Eclipse cycle. This eclipse is part of an eclipse season, a period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Only two (or occasionally three) eclipse seasons occur each year, and each season lasts about 35 days and repeats just short of six months (173 days) later; thus two full eclipse seasons always occur each year. Either two or three eclipses happen each eclipse season. In the sequence below, each eclipse is separated by a fortnight.
It is part of Saros cycle 114.
Lunar Saros series 114, repeating every 18 years and 11 days, has a total of 71 lunar eclipse events including 13 total lunar eclipses.
First Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: 0971 May 13
First Partial Lunar Eclipse: 1115 Aug 07
First Total Lunar Eclipse: 1458 Feb 28
First Central Lunar Eclipse: 1530 Apr 12
Greatest Eclipse of Lunar Saros 114: 1584 May 24
Last Central Lunar Eclipse: 1638 Jun 26
Last Total Lunar Eclipse: 1674 Jul 17
Last Partial Lunar Eclipse: 1890 Nov 26
Last Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: 2233 Jun 22
A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[5] This lunar eclipse is related to two annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 121.